Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 30: Agreement on maintaining ceasefire along the International Border (IB) that was reached between Border Security Force (BSF) and Rangers in a flag meeting yesterday notwithstanding, Intelligence reports have indicated that a group of 35 militants including 17 fidayeens (suicide bombers) were being trained by Pakistan Army, militant commanders and Rangers together at Lahar Kalan in Sialkot district of Pakistan opposite Samba and Hiranagar sectors.
Official sources told the Excelsior that very credible Intelligence inputs have revealed that Pakistan Army, militant commanders of four outfits and Rangers were engaged in training at least 35 militants at Lahar Kalan at an Army location, which has been converted into a militant training camp, in Sialkot district of Pakistan, opposite Samba and Hiranagar sectors in Jammu region.
“Of 35 militants getting training at Lahar Kalan camp, 17 of them were being imparted rigorous training as fidayeens (suicide bombers),’’ the Intelligence input revealed. It said all those undergoing training in handling of sophisticated weapons and explosive devices were Pakistanis. None of them hailed from Jammu and Kashmir, it added.
The militant outfits, whose cadre were being trained at the camp, included Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Al Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen. Sources pointed out that though the militant commanders of these four outfits didn’t have much co-ordination, they have joined hands to train the militants following dwindling strength of their cadre and repeated calls from their commanders operating in Jammu and Kashmir for infiltration of the militants to sustain terrorism.
The Intelligence input indicated that training of the militants was going on even when Pakistani Rangers were holding meeting with the BSF yesterday to initiate Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) on the IB at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh sector.
“Even during fortnight long escalated tensions all along the International Border all along Jammu sector from Kathua to Akhnoor, the training process continued,’’ the input revealed and said the militants were being trained by elite commandos of Pakistan Army apart from Rangers and dreaded militants of four outfits under the command of commanders of four militant outfits.
Sources said the BSF has been maintaining high alert on the International Border as the trained militants could try to sneak into this side from the IB. The militants would try infiltration in the group of two to three, they added.
On September 26, three fidayeens had infiltrated into Hiranagar reportedly from the International Border and carried out twin terror attacks at Hiranagar police station and Mehsar Army Camp at Samba killing 10 persons before the Army eliminated them inside the Camp.
Though training of the militants was generally confined to the camps set for them along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, this was a rare instance wherein 35 militants were being trained opposite the International Border, sources said, adding that the Army installation, where the militants were being trained was located at an isolated place away from the civil population.
A number of youth from Jammu and Kashmir were still stranded in Pakistan and PoK but they were not ready to undergo fresh training especially in the suicide attacks as majority of them wanted to return to their houses in the State under the Rehabilitation Policy, sources said.
“It was due to this reason that Pakistan Army and militant commanders have been training Pakistani militants,’’ they added and said
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